MANSFIELD, PA— Area singers are invited to join the Mansfield
University Festival Chorus for the 2015-16 season. The Chorus, directed by Peggy Dettwiler, will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. in Steadman Theatre beginning Tuesday, August 25.
During the fall semester, the Festival Chorus will perform in the annual Choral Collage in Steadman Theatre on Sunday, October 25 and the annual holiday choral concerts on December 4, 5 and 6.
The Festival Chorus will sing Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) at the Choral Collage and Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) for the holiday concerts, both from the High Lonesome Mass to be performed in its entirety in April. The High Lonesome Mass is composed by Tim Sharp and Wes Ramsay.
The repertoire for the fall semester will include Modern Musick by William Billings; Awake the Trumpet’s Lofty Sound from Samson by George F. Handel; High Lonesome Agnus Dei and High Lonesome Sanctus, composed by Tim Sharp and Wes Ramsay; Tshotsholoza, traditional South African adapted Jeffery Ames; Bogoroditse Devo by Sergei Rachmaninoff; Donald Marsh’s Mary, Mary, arranged by Lloyd Pfautsch; Carole Stephens’ arrangement of We are Lights by Stephen Schwartz and Arise, Your Light has Come by David Danner.
A music packet with five of these titles is available for purchase at the Mountie Den campus bookstore. The remainder of the music will be available at the first rehearsal.
This year’s holiday concert theme is “O Wondrous Mystery” also known as “O magnum mysterium.” Each choir will present a choral selection on the topic plus a variety of works from the Renaissance through the 21st century culminating in a dynamic finale featuring combined choirs with brass and percussion.
Festival Chorus members are also welcome to participate with the Concert Choir on selections for Men’s and Women’s choruses. These rehearsals are held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. for women and 8 p.m. for men. Singers are not required to be part of any other ensemble to be a member of the Festival Chorus.
All community members will need to sing for voice placement into the chorus. Singers should be prepared to vocalize for range and sing a brief solo such as Happy Birthday, My Country ‘tis of Thee, Row Row Row Your Boat or another of their choice.
Call (570)662-4721 or e-mail pdettwil@mansfield.edu for more information.